Nick Helm

Helm was born in Barts Hospital in West Smithfield, London, and raised in Finsbury Park, until the age of 8 when he then moved to St Albans, Hertfordshire.{{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/podcasts/richard_herring_lst_podcast/episode_45_nick_helm/|title=RHLSTP 45 - Nick Helm - RHLSTP with Richard Herring|first=British Comedy|last=Guide|website=British Comedy Guide}} He attended Cunningham Hill Primary School, after which he went to Sandringham Secondary School.{{cite news |last=Dakin |first=Melanie |url=http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/leisure/theatre/cfutheatrenews/9725275.Comedian_owes_career_to_Sandringham_School/?ref=rss |title=Comedian owes career to Sandringham School |work=Watford Observer |date=2012-05-24 |access-date=2015-05-23 }} Following this he attended the University of Winchester.

While at secondary school Helm began writing and performing. In 1997, when he was in the sixth form, his drama teacher Louise Howes brought the school's production of Romeo and Juliet to the Edinburgh Festival.{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/what-s-on/theatre-comedy-dance/interview-nick-helm-comedian-1-2462996 |title=Interview, Nick Helm, comedian |work=The Scotsman |date=2012-08-11 |access-date=2015-05-23 }} Helm played the part of Prince Escalus.

With friends, Helm began taking shows to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in the early 2000s with increasing levels of success.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/features/nick-helm-loud-aggressive--and-a-big-pussycat-off-stage-9051992.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220620/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/features/nick-helm-loud-aggressive--and-a-big-pussycat-off-stage-9051992.html |archive-date=20 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Nick Helm: Loud, aggressive – and a big pussycat off stage|work=The Independent|last=Gilbert|first=Gerard|date=12 January 2014}}

By 2007, Helm began performing solo stand-up, but also maintained his theatrical work with a 2008 Fringe show called I Think You Stink, which gained critical acclaim. Comedian Richard Herring called it a "lovely little hidden gem... funny, silly and slightly chilling... something very new and special".

Helm has worked closely with his friends on the stand-up circuit, performing mixed bill stand-up shows at the Fringe before his first fully solo show, Keep Hold of the Gold, in 2010.

In 2011, the follow-up, Dare to Dream, saw him nominated for the Fosters best comedy show{{cite web|url=http://www.comedyawards.co.uk/comedyshow.asp |title=Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2013 – Best Comedy Show |publisher=Comedyawards.co.uk |access-date=13 January 2014}} and a joke lifted from the show won Dave's award for the funniest joke of the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe: "I needed a password eight characters long so I picked Snow White and the Seven Dwarves".{{cite web|last=Murphy |first=Niall |url=http://www.broadsheet.ie/2011/08/26/the-10-best-jokes-of-the-2011-edinburgh-fringe/ |title=The 10 Best Jokes of the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe |publisher=Broadsheet.ie |date=26 August 2011 |access-date=13 January 2014}}

In 2012 Helm appeared regularly on the BBC Three series Live at the Electric performing songs with backing band, The Helmettes. There were further TV appearances on 8 Out of 10 Cats (including as Santa in the 2012 Christmas Special) and its spin-off 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (on which he has a recurring bit where he repeatedly fails to woo the show's lexicographer, Susie Dent),{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcXjQ759Z84|title=WEIRDEST 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown Romance?! {{!}} Best of Dictionary Corner Pt. 1|publisher=YouTube|date=14 March 2018|access-date=18 May 2021}} The Boyle Variety Performance, Russell Howard's Good News and a new show for Edinburgh, This Means War.

His 2013 Edinburgh Fringe show, One Man Mega Myth, strongly referenced Evel Knievel, and he was again nominated for Best Show in the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, losing out to Bridget Christie.{{cite news|last=Brocklehurst|first=Steven|title=Bridget Christie wins Foster's Edinburgh comedy award|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-23808788|access-date=25 August 2013|newspaper=BBC News|date=24 August 2013}}

Helm won the South Bank Sky Arts "The Times Breakthrough Award" on 27 January 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.sky.com/tv/show/south-bank-awards/article/winners-2014 |title=South Bank Sky Arts Winners 2014 |publisher=Sky.com |access-date=28 January 2014}}

Helm also plays guitar and sings. He has so far released three solo albums. His latest album is called Hot 'n' Heavy, released on 10 May 2013.{{cite web|url=http://open.spotify.com/album/42bPbvAYNBVNndPzSaFrEB |title=Hot 'n' Heavy by Nick Helm on Spotify |publisher=Open.spotify.com |date=10 May 2013 |access-date=13 January 2014}} He performed "He Makes You Look Fat", one of the tracks from his album, when he appeared as the stand-up guest on Russell Howard's Good News.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubr477hl3gc|title=nick helm he make you look fat|publisher=YouTube|date=5 June 2012|access-date=13 January 2014}}

In 2014 Helm started playing the lead role of Andy in the BBC Three sitcom Uncle.{{cite web|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/production/2013/04/bbc3-orders-comedy-starring-stand-up-nick-helm/|title=BBC3 orders comedy starring stand up Nick Helm|publisher=The Stage|date=29 April 2013}} The show was written by Oliver Refson, and featured songs written and performed by Helm and his band. The third and final series of Uncle was screened in January–February 2017.

Helm's comedy/music show Nick Helm's Heavy Entertainment broadcast on BBC Three in May–June 2015.

In 2015 Helm co-wrote and co-starred with Esther Smith in an episode of the BBC Three online series of short stories, Funny Valentines. The episode, titled "Elephant",{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02j75pt|work=BBC Three website|title=Nick Helm: Elephant|date=13 February 2015 |access-date=22 June 2017}} was nominated for a Short Film BAFTA Award in 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/entertainment-arts-35260005| title=BBC News - Entertainment - 2016 BAFTA Awards Nominations | publisher=BBC | date=8 January 2016}}

In mid-2017 Helm starred in the sitcom Loaded (Channel 4), about a group of IT entrepreneurs who become millionaires when their company is bought out, and in the food comedic documentary Eat Your Heart Out with Nick Helm (Dave). He also performed Work in Progress shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, he starred in the online comedy series Angry Quiz Guy.

In August 2021, he starred as a guest on the Cheapshow podcast with fellow comedian Nathaniel Metcalfe.

;As actor

;As himself

{{Reflist|2}}

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• {{Official website|http://nick-helm.co.uk/}}
• {{IMDb name|2096500|Nick Helm}}
• [http://www.gloriousmanagement.com/artist/nick-helm Biog at agent's website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211122440/http://www.gloriousmanagement.com/artist/nick-helm |date=11 December 2013 }}
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh4W_-M-6DA 2012 filmed interview with Helm about his Edinburgh Fringe shows]

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Category:Living people

Category:1980 births

Category:21st-century English male actors

Category:Alumni of the University of Winchester

Category:Comedians from Hertfordshire

Category:Comedians from London

Category:English male stage actors

Category:English male television actors

Category:English stand-up comedians

Category:Male actors from London

Category:Male actors from St Albans

Category:Musicians from St Albans

Category:People from the City of London